by Lori Foster
No one knows you quite like a sister...
When they’re running the animal-rescue farm they inherited from their grandparents, Autumn and Ember Somerset are perfectly in sync. At all other times, not so much. Dependable Autumn would rather curl up with a good book than paint the town red with Ember. After the disaster that was Autumn’s last relationship, it’s pure self-protection. But when her high school crush comes back to town with his adorable young daughter, igniting memories best left forgotten, there’s only one person Autumn can turn to...
Beneath Ember’s free-spirited facade is a layer of deep hurt. She’ll gladly nudge Autumn toward a second chance. But risk her own heart? Not likely. The closer Autumn gets to her own happily-ever-after, the more Ember wonders what she might be missing—and if it isn’t her time to be bold, too.
Summer in Sunset, Kentucky, means long, hot days—and sometimes surprising new beginnings. Through it all, the ties of sisterhood will be there, guiding Autumn and Ember to the lives, and loves, they need...
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster
“A standout story of friends, lovers, and even a very cute puppy.”
—Booklist, starred review, on Sisters of Summer’s End
“A bubbly summer escape, and beyond that, a heartwarming look at the healing power of family.”
—Entertainment Weekly on Cooper’s Charm
“Brimming with heart, heat and humor.”
—Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author, on Worth the Wait
“A beautifully matched pair find each other despite their misgivings (and their baggage) in a steamy romance laced with mystery and suspense that is a pure delight.”
—Library Journal on Cooper’s Charm
“Foster fills her scenes with plenty of banter and sizzling chemistry, ensuring longtime fans will feel right at home in this new series.”
—Publishers Weekly on Driven to Distraction
“A sexy, heartwarming, down-home tale that features two captivating love stories... A funny and engaging addition to the series that skillfully walks the line between romance and women’s fiction.”
—Library Journal on Sisters of Summer’s End
“Full of healing, hope and, most importantly, love... An absolute delight.”
—Maisey Yates, New York Times bestselling author, on Cooper’s Charm
“Storytelling at its best! Lori Foster should be on everyone’s auto-buy list.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon on No Limits
“Foster’s fans will savor this.”
—Publishers Weekly on Sisters of Summer’s End
“Count on Lori Foster for sexy, edgy romance.”
—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author, on No Limits
Also available from Lori Foster
and HQN
Road to Love
Driven to Distraction
Slow Ride
All Fired Up
The Summer Resort
Cooper’s Charm
Sisters of Summer’s End
Body Armor
Under Pressure
Hard Justice
Close Contact
Fast Burn
The Guthrie Brothers
Don’t Tempt Me
Worth the Wait
The Ultimate series
Hard Knocks (prequel ebook novella)
No Limits
Holding Strong
Tough Love
Fighting Dirty
Love Undercover
Run the Risk
Bare It All
Getting Rowdy
Dash of Peril
Edge of Honor
“Ready, Set, Jett” in The Guy Next Door anthology
When You Dare
Trace of Fever
Savor the Danger
A Perfect Storm
What Chris Wants (ebook novella)
Other must-reads
Jax (ebook novella)
Boone (ebook novella)
Tucker (ebook novella)
A Buckhorn Baby
Built for Love (ebook novella)
A Buckhorn Bachelor (ebook novella)
A Buckhorn Summer (ebook novella)
All for You
Back to Buckhorn (ebook novella)
Heartbreakers
Charade
Up In Flames
Turn Up the Heat
Hot in Here
Animal Attraction (ebook anthology)
Love Bites
All Riled Up
The Buckhorn Legacy
Forever Buckhorn
Buckhorn Beginnings
Bewitched
Unbelievable
Tempted
Bodyguard
Caught!
Fallen Angels
Enticing
LORI
FOSTER
The
Somerset
Girls
To Ruby Dooby:
You’re a very special little girl, a personality without compare, an utter delight all of the time and a force to be reckoned with. You were the model for my seven-year-old character Sadie—from the beautiful red hair to the big blue eyes to the kind heart and the fashion sense. Love you bunches!
And to Patricia Schaffer:
When I asked readers on my Facebook page for a volunteer to be the “not nice” lady in the book, you stepped up! That actually makes you really nice, so I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you for offering up your name—even though I’m quite sure you would never be a gossipmonger.
And to everyone else who volunteered, thank you, as well! After writing so many books, I often look to you, my Facebook friends, for the names of my secondary characters.
Hugs to all!
Dear Reader,
Oh my goodness, I’m soooo happy to share The Somerset Girls with you for several reasons. First, sisters Autumn and Ember run a rescue farm, and if you’ve read me before, you know how very much I care about animal welfare. Writing them was like channeling all my most heartfelt emotions. They love animals as much as I do, but unlike me, they’re actually bringing them all home. (I donate a book each year to a no-kill animal rescue because, sadly, I can’t bring all the animals home. My elderly cats would be horribly upset.)
Even better, Autumn meets a single dad with a seven-year-old daughter he loves with all his heart—and I modeled her off a very special little girl who is near and dear to me. From the vivid red hair and big blue eyes, to the independence and quick wit, to the often fun fashion sense, it’s all taken from sweet Ruby. Writing that character was made easier because of my love and familiarity with her. However, please know that Ruby has never dealt with the serious issues that my book girl Sadie faces. Ruby’s mama is a wonderful person and a phenomenal mother who has always kept her very safe, loved and secure.
Lastly, because I have two sisters I adore, I love that these sisters are close. Not alike—sisters seldom are—but they work around the differences and love each other unconditionally. They have disagreements but don’t hold on to grudges. Better still, they’re there when needed. To me, that’s how family should be...but isn’t always.
So this is a book of emotional conflicts and unending love, of hurt and healing, of loss and triumph. Of family, with all the good, bad, hilarious and embarrassing moments thrown in.
I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
Lori Foster
PS: Autumn is a reader, too—
and she loves suspenseful romance from the amazingly talented Karen Rose. So to my friend Karen, thank you for the inspiration and the happy hours of reading!
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Reader’s Guide
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
A refreshing shower, ice cream and the book she was reading.
As Autumn Somerset got the unhappy pigs into the back of her truck, she repeatedly recited the awards that awaited her at the end of her day.
A day that should have ended...oh, about three hours ago.
As a designer, she’d wrapped up appointments promptly at five o’clock. Yes, she’d been thinking about that tub of carrot-cake ice cream in her fridge even then. In fact, she’d thought about it since it had arrived a few days ago. Being a dedicated member of an ice-cream club had its perks, like new flavors every month. Her efforts at healthier eating meant she only consumed ice cream on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and holidays.
True, every so often she created a holiday all her own. Like Cleaned the Kitchen Day. Or Completed a Job Day.
Or Mother Didn’t Insult Me Day. That particular holiday earned her two scoops.
This being a Monday, she didn’t even need a fake holiday.
“Sure do appreciate it, Autumn.”
Forcing her mouth into a polite smile, Autumn turned to the man who had, over the past two years, gotten several pets that he then no longer wanted. Ass, she thought in her head, but what she said was, “It’s no problem at all, Ralph.”
“Got that first pig thinking it’d be small, ya know? Like a dog.”
“Yes, I know.” He’d thought he was getting a miniature pig—then he’d found out differently.
“Got the second one to keep it company, but that first one outgrew it in no time—”
“I do understand.” And, damn it, she wanted her ice cream. If she had to converse, she’d rather do it with the pigs that were now squealing inside the cage of the truck. “I have to get going so I can get them settled.” Trying for a speck of diplomacy, she suggested, “You should really think about gifts other than pets, don’t you think? Perhaps your kids would like a nice swing set? I could design one for you.”
“Can’t afford that.”
Smile locked in place, she volunteered her sister without pause. “Ember and I will help with that, okay? But only if you promise me, no more animals.”
His face lit up.
Good. One job down. She’d tackle Ember next.
At least her sister loved animals as much as she did—which, honestly, might be the only thing they had in common other than blood.
By the time she got the pigs to the farm, it was after nine o’clock. Pavlov, their six-year-old redbone coonhound, met her in the yard, jumping around the truck in excitement. Because she lived on a farm, Pavlov didn’t have to be locked in the house while she was away. The doggy door let him in when he wanted—to her side of the house, her sister’s, or their parents’ separate residence—but more often than not he preferred to visit with a cow or mule or even a turkey.
“Hey, buddy. Miss me?”
Too busy seeing what new friends she’d brought home, Pavlov paid her no attention. Never had a dog been so taken with other animals.
“Anxious to meet, huh?” While Pavlov bounded around, jumping into the truck and then out again, she set the pigs loose in the wide-open pen.
He barked in excitement.
Noses to the ground and already rooting through their new digs, the pigs moved forward. “I present Matilda and Olivia.”
Pavlov, aptly named, went into the pen, too, only because the gate was open. With the sun splashing crimson across the sky, she waited, arms folded over the wooden post, while they got acquainted. It warmed her heart to see the pigs so happy. The smaller of the two ran circles as he explored the area. The biggest one found the shade and then rolled around, wallowing in freedom.
How often had Ralph even had them outside? She’d taken them from the basement, poor babies. Yes, they’d been fed and had straw to lie on, but it wasn’t the same. Farm animals needed fresh air and sunshine.
Here, at the Fresh Start Farm, they’d get that...and more.
“You’re home now, babies.” Stepping into the pen, too, Autumn found a grassy spot to sit and spent another half hour lavishing love, scratches and hugs on the affectionate animals.
Finally, as the sun sank behind the trees and mosquitoes filled the air, she headed in. All it took to get Pavlov to come along was to open the gate again.
The dog walked through every open door, every single time. That, in part, accounted for his name.
Because he’d jumped into the truck bed, she took her time driving the short distance, going gently over ruts and small hills so she wouldn’t jostle him too much, and then parked on the gravel lot behind the sprawling farmhouse. Porch lights had automatically flicked on.
“Race you in,” she told Pavlov and then took off running. Ears flopping, he gave chase and they hit the door together, her laughing and him barking.
Unfortunately, after getting two steps into the foyer, she found Ember waiting on her.
“About time!” Ember stood from the couch, where she’d been flipping through a design magazine. “Where have you been, anyway? It’s late. And ewww, Autumn, you reek.”
“Nice to see you, too.” Putting the shower on the back burner, she made a beeline to her kitchen sink, where she washed her hands and arms up to her elbows.
Pavlov ate the food she put into his dish like he hadn’t been fed in a month, which was just his way, then drank noisily, splashing water everywhere. Finally, with slobbering chops, he greeted Ember.
Laughing, Ember said, “You are such a pig, Pavlov.”
Speaking of pigs...
As Pavlov headed into the living room and his big pillow bed, Ember shook her head. “I take it he’s sleeping with you tonight?”
Pavlov varied his routine, sometimes staying at her side of the house, sometimes Ember’s, and sometimes even with her parents or their hired man, Mike. “Looks like.”
“That dog is so fickle.”
“He loves us all.” Ignoring the reason for her sister’s visit, Autumn took the ice cream from the freezer.
“Is that going to be your dinner?”
Unwilling to debate her eating habits, Autumn pointed a spoon at her. “I volunteered you today.”
With a groan, Ember flopped into a chair at the table. She, at least, looked fresh and pretty in a sundress and cute sandals. Her dark hair, much like Autumn’s but with reddish streaks supplied by a salon, didn’t look frazzled and wasn’t soaked in sweat.
No matter what Ember did, she never seemed to sweat. If she hadn’t been her sister, Autumn might dislike her on principle alone.
“Ralph gave us two pigs, one miniature—maybe—and one definitely not. I just got them settled, thus the lovely aroma you noted.”
“What a jerk! Two dogs, a cat, ducks and now pigs? What part of ‘not animal-friendly’ is he not getting?”
Luckily they’d found good forever homes for the dogs and cat. It was a little tougher with the farm animals, since they didn’t want them turned into food. “That’s why I volunteered you. I promised him we’d build a swing set for his kids, if he’d
stop getting animals.”
Skewing her gloss-covered mouth to the side in thought, Ember frowned, then gave a decisive nod. “I should have enough scrap wood to make something nice. Good thinking. You draw it up and then help me put it together, and you’ve got a deal.” She offered her palm.
Autumn high-fived her. “It’s a genius plan, thought of spur-of-the-moment, but only if it actually works.” More often than not, they agreed on most everything when it came to saving animals. They were well suited to run the animal rescue together.
The rest of life? Not so much.
Using that as a perfect segue, Ember gave her a sideways look. “Speaking of genius plans—”
Autumn froze. Ember’s plans were always proof positive that they led very different lives.
“—guess who’s in town?”
Shrugging, Autumn shoved a big bite of ice cream into her mouth. She had a feeling she’d need it.
Looking like a magician about to perform an amazing trick, Ember announced, “Tash Ducker.”
The ice cream stuck halfway down her throat. Disbelieving, suffering a mix of dread and curiosity, Autumn choked. When she finally got her breath, she asked, “Tash is back?”
Many years ago—sixteen, to be exact—she’d had a ridiculous crush on him. Two grades above her in high school, and oh-so gorgeous, she’d gotten severely tongue-tied whenever he looked her way. Even after they’d graduated, she couldn’t seem to look at him without going mute. Once he’d finished college, he’d moved away and she hadn’t seen him since.
Going into self-survival mode, a necessity with her family, Autumn replied, “Huh” with as much nonchalance as she could muster. To further that lie of disinterest, she asked, “What’d you do today? I tried to call you about the pigs, but you didn’t answer.”
“Now that I know it was about pigs, I’m glad.” Ember flashed the smile that made all the local guys stupid. “Actually, I had a date and didn’t want to be interrupted. I figured whatever it was, you could handle it.”
That answer, given far too often, took some of the delight from the ice cream. “So...what if it had been an emergency?”
